AN: Keep watching my Icon for the fanart for each chapter as it comes out. If you want to see the bigger unedited/uncropped versions then check out my AO3 account since the illustrations are posted there within the story, or you can see all 13 illustrations on my deviantart account under the name texasislandr
Once again, thank you to the wonderful, the amazing EchoRose480 who is the awesome beta for this story.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Merlin :P
~~~~~~~~MERLIN~~~~~~~~
Chapter 4 – In Search of Water
They had been gone for several hours already, and most of the time had been passed in peaceful silence. There were a few words undoubtedly passed between them, but nothing had led to any lasting conversation, and Arthur found himself missing Merlin's incessant nattering more and more. Of course, this only seemed to feed his already long list of reasons to wallow in guilt.
"You're angry with me," Arthur accuses, immediately flinching when the words seem all too desperate to end the lingering quiet. They have the desired effect though, because Lancelot gives him a sidelong glance.
"Permission to speak freely?"
"Certainly."
"Then, with all due respect sire, Gwaine is angry. I am more disappointed than anything," he responds.
Arthur closes his eyes and nods in acceptance. He's not surprised at all by the answer; in truth he's disappointed in himself too. He knew Lancelot was too honorable to deny harboring any ill feelings toward him, and he knows he's picking at an uncomfortable subject, but he can't help but press forward, "I didn't mean for this to happen."
Lancelot frowns at him and rubs a hand over his face with a sigh, "Would you still be sorry if there hadn't been something in the water, or would you have simply continued to find the situation funny?"
Arthur knows his expression must be one of shock, and he wants to say that he would have been apologetic afterwards, but in the end he's ashamed with the knowledge that he probably wouldn't have been. He closes his eyes and doesn't look at the other knight again, but that doesn't keep Lancelot from pursuing. Besides even without a verbal response, he is sure his silence is answer enough to the question,
"And, that's why I'm disappointed," Lancelot professes, "Merlin would do anything for you Sire, he's loyal to a fault, and despite the lack of credit he's given, he's also brave-incredibly so."
"I know he is."
"No, I don't think you do," Lancelot counters doubtfully, "When we were all knighted, it was because we had proven ourselves. We earned your respect, yet Merlin has done far more and is still denied the equality you so freely gave the rest of us. He deserves better, he deserves your recognition."
"Don't you think I know that?!" Arthur hisses defensively, glaring at the older man.
"No, I know you know it. The problem is, that I don't think Merlin knows you know, and as I said before, he deserves far better. Would it really be so hard to let him know that you appreciate his loyalty, his…dare I say, friendship?"
Arthur feels his stomach twist as he forces himself to look over and meet the other man's dark eyes, and vows "I'll make it right. I swear to you. "
Lancelot simply gives him an encouraging half smile, "I know you will."
~~~~~~~~MERLIN~~~~~~~~
Merlin's eyelids flutter repetitively, dark lashes stroking pale skin. Gwaine sighs as he watches the small movement, wishing all the while that the lids would open and reveal the blue irises beneath. He would do anything just to see those cracked lips spread and give him their familiar toothy grin, but considering the circumstances, all the wishing in the world wouldn't make it so.
Letting his eyes pass once more over the peeling layers on the boy's lips, Gwaine inhales deeply and reaches over for his water skin, preparing to wet the younger man's parched skin. The knight notes his container's lack of weight, and, with a deepening frown, realizes it is empty just like the one before it. Growling in frustration he tosses the dry vessel to the side, looking over to the other men.
"I need more water," he announces, looking at them expectantly, "I need to try and get something down into him."
When Elyan looks up from the fire he's stoking, Gwaine feels his heart plummet at the apologetic expression his dark face holds.
"I'm sorry Gwaine, really I am, but mines also empty, and so is Leon's."
Gwaine sends a glace to Leon who nods his head in regretful agreement, and he swallows thickly, "What about yours Lorvel?"
"It wouldn't matter" the man mutters snidely, and Gwaine can feel his irritation mounting, "What's that supposed to mean?" he demands.
"It means," Lorvel drawls, "that I wouldn't give the last of my resources to a peasant boy, especially him."
Gwaine suspects Elyan can see his face contorting in anger, because the man is holding up his hand in a pacifying gesture. "Look now, the Prince has gone to retrieve more. Our rations will soon be replenished and there will be plenty for everyone."
"There's no guarantee in that, they might not find anything and then I'm going to need this," he scoffs, dangling his water skin at his companions flauntingly.
That was it; Gwaine was officially seeing red, "I want to know what your problem is you bastard, I've had just about enough of you!" he shouts lividly, spittle flying from his lips as he stumbles to his feet.
"My problem is that that servant," Lorvel hisses, his finger pointing at the unconscious man. "doesn't know his place, never has. And it seems to me that neither do you,"
'Screw propriety and codes' Gwaine thinks as he squares his shoulders and glares at the older man balefully, "Give me the damn water!"
"I'd rather give it to my horse than to that boy!" the knight sneers, and that's it. With those arrogant words he has sealed his fate.
In a flash, Gwaine is across the camp and lunging at the older man, tackling the knight to the ground. Then they are tumbling, their bodies rolling in the dirt as their hands grapple at each other for purchase. "Get this lunatic off of me!" Lorvel shrieks.
In moments, Gwaine feels Elyan's strong hands on his shoulders as the other two knights move in to separate the fight. Taking advantage of the distraction, he swings his clinched fist forward, and is satisfied with the resounding crack that follows.
As he's being dragged backwards across the ground, he doesn't bother struggling, because he's accomplished what he wanted to and is now perfectly content to watch the other man clutch at his damaged nose.
"Did you see that?!" Lorvel sputters indignantly to Leon as he tries to staunch the blood flow with his hand, "That riffraff hit me! That's why commoners don't deserve knighthoods."
Whatever Gwaine was expecting as Leon's response, he was sure watching the knight's fist collide with the other man's face was not it. He looks on in morbid pleasure as Lorvel drops to the ground with a pained exclamation, and then Gwaine flicks his eyes up to lock with Leon's. The seasoned knight simply shrugs innocently and confesses "I've wanted to do that for weeks."
Elyan is obviously as shocked as he is, but that doesn't keep Gwaine from grinning like a loon.
~~~~~~~~MERLIN~~~~~~~~
'This can't be happening' Arthur thinks desperately as he drops to one knee. With a shaky breath he lets his fingers run through the dirt beneath him, a feeling of failure running through him as he pulls up on a dry, curled plate. He rises to his feet and stares at the clot disparagingly. There was supposed to be water here, but there was nothing, nothing except a few stagnant puddles. With growing frustration he crushes the earth in his hand before tossing it away from him with a curse.
"What do we do now sire?" Percival asks hesitantly from behind him, and Arthur just hangs his head with a troubled sigh. He lets himself breathe deeply a moment, tipping his head back and looking up at the sky above him. When he turns to face his companions, he's met with expectant looks, and he steels his face into a mask of determination. "We keep looking," he answers firmly, striding past the two men, and towards his horse. There were other locations etched on the map, and as God as his witness he swore he was going to find one with what Merlin needed.
~~~~~~~~MERLIN~~~~~~~~
A/N: Well, not much happens this chapter, but I have to say that Leon takes the slot of most favorite scene for me in this :D I decided the normally reserved Knight needed to have a moment made of pure awesomeness, which is why I chose that scene to illustrate :P
